Dispatch is a monthly "subscription-based mystery" from Breakout Games that "tests your detective skills each month with a new delivery of clues."
This is a review of the first series called On The Run:
"Murder, romance, scandal—this story has it all. Once you open your delivery, you'll find yourself entangled in the strange disappearance of your closest childhood friend, who also happens to be suspected of killing his wife, a well-known heiress. With the aid of physical clues and details embedded online, you'll follow each thread to deduce what is fact, what is fiction—and finally the truth—in this new experience from the creators of Breakout escape rooms."
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Dispatch: On The Run by Breakout Games
The Subscription Box: Dispatch
The Cost: $24.99 a month + free shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $10 off your first box!
CODE: dispatchsignup10
The Products: Physical clues to help solve a mystery.
Ships to: USA
Dispatch: On The Run by Breakout Games #4 Review
I've come to really appreciate the checklist that comes in every box. Not only does it help me make sure I received everything, it's also helpful when I need to check past boxes for clues. If you subscribe, never throw anything out!
This box also had a Dispatch sticker!
The first thing I found was this unmarked box.
There was a deck of cards inside!
Perfectly ordinary playing cards... right? Or do they contain clues to the murder of heiress Victoria Van Kress, who was killed on her wedding night?
Victoria had a cousin named Lydia who ran away years ago. Victoria founded a charity in her honor, but Lydia never reappeared. Here's the police report about her disappearance.
And here's Lydia's missing person report.
Hmm... someone was admitted to Saint Mary's Emergency Clinic... could that be Lydia?
Ohhh a case of amnesia! Maybe Lydia is unaware of her own identity.
Here's a receipt for a hefty donation to the charity that Victoria founded, For the Love of Lydia. There's also some account information.
James, Victoria's husband, and top murder suspect is also my best friend from childhood. (Or your best friend, if you subscribe!) He's gone into hiding but sent this clue in the form of a fill-in-the-blank film list. Most were easy to figure out, but I'll admit that I had to Google a few.
So far, every shipment has been themed after a different country, presumably the places that James has traveled in his search for the truth about Victoria's family. This box had an Australian theme! Here's a ticket stub for Love and Death in the Outback. The QR code will take you to the film's website.
One of the more interesting items in the box was this light, which I'm told I will find 'very illuminating'. Very funny, James.
Next up? Some sheet music! But is there any hidden meaning here?
Shining the light on the bottom revealed lettering – a secret code!
No boomerang was included in the box, but there was this instructional card for one. Why would this be included?
This envelope was meant for Roland, but of course, I opened it anyway.
It's a letter from 'V' (Victoria?) and is part of Lydia's diary before she left:
'All these secrets, these things I've been expected to live with and I have. I can't anymore. Not now. NOT THIS SECRET!!!!'
The last item was a color-by-number image. A clue is revealed when the colors are added.
The best thing about Dispatch is that if you get stuck, you can write to Bailey Detectives for some in-character assistance. Here's my email:
This is the response that I received:
I always love their responses!
Verdict: I love the pacing of this story. Each box has made me feel like I've made some progress on the case, and yet I'm still not close to solving it. I enjoyed the puzzles this time and I think I was a little better at solving them than I was last month.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? I believe all new subscribers receive the first box so that the boxes can be opened in sequence, You will not receive this exact box if you order now, but you will get it eventually.
Coupon - Use code dispatchsignup10 to save $10 off your first box!
Value Breakdown: It's impossible to give a value breakdown because the items are part of a larger story and have no value on their own. However, for $25, I think it's a fun way to spend an afternoon, and would be great to share with a friend or family member.
Check out all of our Dispatch reviews and the Geek + Nerd Subscription Box Directory for more mystery and crime-themed boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of the fourth installment of Dispatch?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.